How Long Is Man to Live?

And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” ---Genesis 6:3

Insurance actuaries estimate that the average life of a man is 72 years and a woman 75. However, we see in scripture that God has made the human body to live 120 years. So, we are living far beneath what God initially mandated. Why? Because society has conditioned us to “think” that we are to live 70-80 years. When we find someone is 90 or more we oooh and aaaah and compliment them for their long life.

Many pastors and Christians have quoted a scripture that they believe confirms that we are to live only 70-80 years. It is found in Psalm 90. Before I write the verse, let me set up the chapter. Moses has been in the wilderness with an unruly, rebellious and ungrateful people that God had ordained as His chosen, the people of Israel. They were in the wilderness, complained and griped and were disobedient to the law God gave Moses. For that reason, God had to reprimand them in many ways which shortened their lives.

Moses is writing to God on behalf of the Israelite nation, petitioning Him to have mercy. In Psalm 90:9-10 it says, “For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; we finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years.” Moses is reflecting on how a nation of backslidden people was not seeing the fullness of life that God had given them.

So, how do we interpret this? God has designed our human bodies to live 120 years; to rejuvenate itself on a regular basis. Our body, soul and spirit also fight to live, no matter what accident, disease or calamity comes our way. Our body was designed to heal itself, fight off illness and restore to full strength. Why? Because God has a plan and a purpose for our lives. Satan, the enemy of our soul, wants to make sure we don’t fulfill the destiny God has for each one of us. So the enemy, has set traps, throws sickness and disease at us and makes sure we don’t reach the length of our days.

The well-known Psalm 91 is uplifting and encouraging. At the end of the Psalm in verse 16, God is speaking and says, “With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.” God’s long life is 120 years. Satisfy in the Hebrew means to have enough, to have plenty. And salvation means deliverance, victory, prosperity and health. (Strong’s Concordance) So, according to the Bible, God will give long life which is without lack and be full where God will show Himself by providing deliverance, a victorious life, walking through life moving forward toward their destiny in health!

Confession: I realize that God has given more days in my life than I thought. My body is designed to live 120 years by the Great Creator for a purpose. I must make a correction in my thinking and plan to live all the days the Lord has given me.